James Brown Biography

Encyclopedia of World Biography on James Brown

"Godfather of Soul" James Brown (born 1933) is also known as "the hardest-working man in show business."

In the book about his life, Living in America, James Brown told the author, "I never try to express what I actually did," regarding his influence on the American soul scene. "I wouldn't try to do that, 'cause definition's such a funny thing. What's put together to make my music--it's something which has real power. It can stir people up and involve 'em. But it's just something I came to hear."

The music that James Brown heard in his head--and conveyed to his extraordinary musicians with an odd combination of near-telepathic signals and vicious browbeating--changed the face of soul. By stripping away much of the pop focus that had clouded pure rhythm and blues, Brown found a rhythmic core that was at once primally sexual and powerfully spiritual. Shouting like a preacher...